Saying the next failure could be tomorrow or at any point in time, Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant General Manager Ryan Johnson made his pitch to Moose Jaw City Council Monday for a $50 million dollar electrical upgrade.

The plant saw three major power failures in 2011 and three in 2015 that caused a loss in water production. With the plant serving as a source of water to Moose Jaw and Regina, the two cities have agreed to back borrowing to fund the work.

"The board has identified several risks that impact the plant's ability to make water and six of the top ten are eclectically related so this takes care of a whole bunch of problems at once." explained Johnson following his presentation.

Moose Jaw is responsible for about $11.7 million of the $50 million dollars, Regina for about $33 million and then the rest from the plant's reserves. While the plant will apply for the loan, the cities are considered responsible for the borrowing that will go against their debt limits. The cost of paying for the upgrade has already been factored into water rate increases.  

The work is also considered non-abortive, so if a new plant is to come in the near future, the upgrades can be utilized on the new facility.